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Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested a 24-year-old man accused of supplying mule bank accounts and SIM cards to fraudsters.
Who Was Arrested in the Case?
The accused, Sambit Kumar Naik, is a freelance model from Rourkela, Odisha. Police apprehended him on November 8, 2026, while he was residing in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Investigators allege that he arranged bank accounts, ATM cards, cheque books and registered SIM cards for cybercriminals.
Police seized a mobile phone from Naik. He allegedly facilitated the sharing of banking-related one-time passwords (OTPs), enabling fraudulent transactions and the movement of money through mule accounts. Investigators also linked him to a digital arrest fraud involving a woman who lost ₹6,60,543.
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How Was the Woman Cheated?
According to police, fraudsters contacted the woman through WhatsApp while impersonating Bengaluru Police personnel. They allegedly used police logos, fabricated investigation reports and forged official documents to threaten her with legal action under the pretext of a digital arrest.
The woman transferred ₹6,60,543 from her Union Bank of India pension account. She died on September 8, 2025, after reportedly experiencing continuous threats, mental harassment and severe cardiac distress. A family member subsequently lodged a complaint, which Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police received on September 15, 2025.
How Did the International Network Operate?
Investigators found that Naik allegedly established contact with cybercriminals through Telegram and agreed to arrange bank accounts in exchange for commissions. Police said he joined the network because of financial difficulties.
He later developed connections with an individual identified as Viraj and Chinese nationals allegedly operating from Cambodia under the name HYPAY Company. Investigators said Naik recruited associates to collect bank accounts and SIM cards and received commissions based on transactions routed through them. Around three cybercrime cases across India were linked to suspected fraudulent transactions involving an ICICI Bank account associated with him.
What Did Police Find About His Past?
Police records indicate that Naik had previously been arrested by Pimpri Chinchwad Cyber Crime Police in January 2025. Kalepadal police had also arrested him in another case.
He reportedly spent approximately six months in judicial custody before being released. Investigators allege that he subsequently resumed involvement in cyber fraud activities, including supplying banking infrastructure used by criminal networks.
The latest arrest has brought renewed attention to the role of mule accounts in facilitating online financial fraud. Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police are continuing their investigation to identify other suspected network members and trace the financial transactions linked to the accused.
